Expression of AmGR10 of the Gustatory Receptor Family in Honey Bee Is Correlated with Nursing Behavior

Yisilahaiti Paerhati; Shinichi Ishiguro; Risa Ueda-Matsuo; Ping Yang; Tetsuro Yamashita; Kikukatsu Ito; Hideaki Maekawa; Hiroko Tani; Koichi Suzuki

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0142917

Expression of AmGR10 of the Gustatory Receptor Family in Honey Bee Is Correlated with Nursing Behavior

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 20;10(11):e0142917. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142917. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Yisilahaiti Paerhati¹, Shinichi Ishiguro², Risa Ueda-Matsuo², Ping Yang¹, Tetsuro Yamashita¹, Kikukatsu Ito¹, Hideaki Maekawa³, Hiroko Tani⁴, Koichi Suzuki²

Affiliations

¹ The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
² Organization for Research Promotion, Iwate University, Morioka, Iwate, Japan.
³ Biochemical Science Association, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Institute for Bee Products and Health Science, Yamada Apiculture Center, Inc., Kagamino, Okayama, Japan.

Abstract

We investigated the association between the expression of a gene encoding gustatory receptor (G10) and division of labor in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Among 10 GR genes encoding proteins 15% ~ 99% amino acid identity in the honey bee, we found that AmGR10 with 99% identity is involved in nursing or brood care. Expression of AmGR10 was restricted to organs of the hypopharyngeal gland, brain, and ovary in the nurse bee phase. Members of an extended nursing caste under natural conditions continued to express this gene. RNAi knockdown of AmGR10 accelerated the transition to foraging. Our findings demonstrate that this one gene has profound effects on the division of labor associated with the development and physiology of honeybee society.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Bees / genetics*
Bees / growth & development
Behavior, Animal*
Brain / metabolism
Drosophila Proteins / genetics
Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
Molecular Sequence Data
Receptors, Cell Surface / biosynthesis*
Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
Signal Transduction

Substances

Drosophila Proteins
Receptors, Cell Surface
gustatory receptor, Drosophila

Associated data

GENBANK/AB295658

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a grant from Yamada Honey Bee (http://www.bee-lab.jp/) and in part by JSPS KAKENHI Grand no. 23228001 (http://www.jsps.go.jp/aboutus/index.html). Yamada Apicultural Center, Inc. provided support in the form of a salary for Dr. Hiroko Tani, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The other funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.